Can You Believe This Legendary Actor Is Celebrating 49 Years Sober?
By Movieguide® Contributor
That’s right. Anthony Hopkins is celebrating his 49th year of sobriety.
“Forty-nine years ago today, I stopped,” the 87-year-old said in an Instagram video Sunday. “And I was having such fun,” he recalled. “But then I realized I was in big, big trouble, because I couldn’t remember anything, and I was driving a car, drunk out of my skull.”
That was the turning point for THE RITE actor, who realized he “needed help.”
“So, I got it,” he said. “I phoned up a group of people like me, alcoholic, and that was it. Over. Anyway, I’ve had more fun these 49 years than ever,” the Teddy Bear Award® winner shared.
In a 2020 interview, Hopkins said the day he made his sobriety decision, he had woken up in a hotel in Arizona, with no clue how he got there.
“I thought, ‘Well, I’ve got to stop this because I’m either going to kill somebody or myself,’” he said. “My life, from that moment on, took on new meaning.”
Hopkins said that while “having fun is wonderful,” it can turn into a problem and you should recognize when you need help.
“Having a drink is fine,” he advised his listeners. “But if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help.”
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“It’s not a terrible deal. It’s a condition,” he continued. “If you’re allergic to alcohol, get some help. There’s plenty of help around.”
He encouraged his listeners to “phone” a group or locate a 12-step program because alcohol “is a killer.”
The star added that when he decided to sober up, he found out that he wasn’t alone in his experience.
“[I’m] “not unique,” he said. “There are thousands of people around like me… [I’ve] had a wonderful life” and an “unexpectedly long life.”
Hopkins ended the video with a kiss to the camera, saying, “With that, happy New Year.”
People reported Hopkins is in good spirits, having treated his followers to a little piano performance in another video days earlier.
He joked, “‘Tis the season to be jolly. Available for weddings, birthdays and special occasions… FOR FUN AND FOR FREE.”
SEE MORE: NOAH INTERVIEW: FEATURING ANTHONY HOPKINS
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